RED Tape Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6398
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Environmental Protection
- Status
- Passed House
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-17: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-10T08:06:34Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Reducing and Eliminating Duplicative Environmental Regulations Act" (RED Tape Act), H.R. 6398, aims to limit the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) mandatory review and comment process under the Clean Air Act. It seeks to reduce what the bill describes as duplicative environmental oversight on federal actions and regulations.
Key Provisions
- Amends Section 309(a) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7609):
- Makes minor grammatical adjustments (e.g., punctuation changes around "comment in writing" and "Administrator").
- Removes the list of items requiring EPA review, leaving only proposed legislation subject to EPA's written comments to congressional committees.
- Amends Section 309(b) by striking references to "action" or "regulation," further narrowing the scope.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Original law: Required the EPA Administrator to review and provide written comments on:
- Major proposed legislation.
- Newly authorized federal construction projects and major federal agency actions subject to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA, which requires environmental impact statements for significant federal actions).
- Proposed regulations issued by any federal department or agency.
- New law: Eliminates EPA review requirements for federal projects/actions and proposed regulations by other agencies. EPA review is now limited exclusively to proposed legislation.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Other federal departments (e.g., those issuing regulations or undertaking projects) face less EPA scrutiny, potentially speeding up approvals and reducing delays.
- Citizens and businesses: Could lead to faster implementation of federal regulations and projects with fewer environmental checks, benefiting industries but possibly increasing environmental risks if oversight is reduced.
- EPA: Reduced workload and authority in inter-agency reviews.
- No direct impacts on international relations noted.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- EPA: Loses broad review powers over non-legislative matters.
- Congress: Continues to receive EPA comments on proposed bills.
- Other federal agencies (e.g., Departments of Transportation, Energy): Gain streamlined processes without EPA input on regulations or projects.
- Businesses and industries: Benefit from potentially fewer regulatory hurdles.
- Environmental groups and citizens: May have reduced opportunities for EPA-flagged concerns in federal actions.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Narrows a specific Clean Air Act provision without altering broader EPA authorities or NEPA requirements; other environmental review processes (e.g., direct NEPA compliance) remain intact.
- Constitutional: No apparent challenges; stays within Congress's authority to modify statutes.
- Political: The short title ("RED Tape Act") signals a deregulatory intent, emphasizing reduction of perceived redundant oversight, which could spark debate over balancing environmental protection with administrative efficiency. Passed the House on April 16, 2026; referred to Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on April 17, 2026.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-17: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- 2026-04-16: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2026-04-16: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 222 - 205 (Roll no. 118). (Roll call 118)
- 2026-04-16: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 222 - 205 (Roll no. 118). (Roll call 118)
- 2026-04-16: On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 213 - 216 (Roll no. 117). (Roll call 117)
- 2026-04-16: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2938-2939)
- 2026-04-15: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 6398, the Chair put the question on motion to recommit, and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mrs. Grijalva demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
- 2026-04-15: The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
- 2026-04-15: Mrs. Grijalva moved to recommit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. (text: CR H2912-2913)
- 2026-04-15: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
- 2026-04-15: DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 6398.
- 2026-04-15: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 6387, H.R. 6398, H.R. 6409 and H. Res. 1156. The resolution provides for consideration of each measure under a closed rule with one hour of general debate on each measure. The resolution also provides one motion to recommit on H.R. 6387, H.R. 6398, and H.R. 6409.
- 2026-04-15: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1174. (consideration: CR H2909-2913; text: CR H2909)
- 2026-04-15: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1174 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 6387, H.R. 6398, H.R. 6409 and H. Res. 1156. The resolution provides for consideration of each measure under a closed rule with one hour of general debate on each measure. The resolution also provides one motion to recommit on H.R. 6387, H.R. 6398, and H.R. 6409.
- 2026-04-09: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 516.
Bill Versions
- Reducing and Eliminating Duplicative Environmental Regulations Act — issued 2026-04-16 — PDF (4 pages)
- Reducing and Eliminating Duplicative Environmental Regulations Act — issued 2025-12-03 — PDF (2 pages)
- Reducing and Eliminating Duplicative Environmental Regulations Act — issued 2026-04-17 — PDF (3 pages)
- Reducing and Eliminating Duplicative Environmental Regulations Act — issued 2026-04-09 — PDF (4 pages)